Pointers for Practice: Influences on Parental Ongoing Engagement with The Plan

Parental motivation for initial engagement with a plan may be different to continuing engagement. For example, a parent may be motivated to engage in the plan as they fear losing their child. However, as the plan progresses their engagement may depend on believing that the plan is making a difference to their lives.

The following have been found to positively influence on-going parental engagement:

• perception of practitioners’ as being knowledgeable about parenting;
• relationship-based practice rather than an emphasis by practitioners on the power imbalance by command and control;
• compassion, honesty and sensitivity from practitioners;
• opportunities for parent/s to provide feedback on what is and is not useful;
• recognition of the socio-economic stresses the family is experiencing;
• achieving positive child-focused outcomes;
• a focus on both strengths as well as problems;

Further information:

Ghaffar, W; Manby, M; Race, T (2012) Exploring the Experiences of Parents and Carers whose Children Have Been Subject to Child Protection Plans British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 42(5), pp.887-905

Gladstone J et al., (2012) Looking at engagement and outcome from the perspectives of child protection workers and parents Children and Youth Services Review 34 (2012) 112–118

Mellon M (2017) Child protection: listening to and learning from parents, (Accessed 8/6/2019)